| 10 this time, if I have correct information, there had never been but two or three sermons, of this doctrine, preached in that state; consequently, as to our principles, and rules of faith, the people knew nothing, except by reports. After I had fulfilled the appointment which I had made by setting forth the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, it was so different from what they had expected, that it caused a spirit of inquiry, so much so, that I had calls in every direction. I then sent appointments to different places in the county, and commenced fulfilling them; the people flocked out, in crowds to hear, yet at this time, more out of curiosity than any thing else; and in a short time, the news went abroad, that a Mormon preacher had made his appearance in the land; and the more I preached, the greater the excitement, so that in every town, and neighborhood, where I had preached, what the world calls Mormonism, was the grand topic of conversation. The honest in heart exclaiming that it was truth, while another class of the community, who loves darkness more that light, lifted their voices and influence against it; some saying that I preached from another bible, different from our common version; but the honest in heart, searched the scriptures, and learned to the contrary. At this particular crises, while the honest were searching the scriptures, the priests were engaged in fumbling over their old news paper files, and hunting up all the old stories that was told a number of years ago, probably thinking that this would be the most effectual way to stop the spread of truth. After they had gathered the old news paper stories and reports that had been put in circulation, by our enemies, three priests, a Methodist, Baptist and Universalist, united, Pilate and Herod like, to combat the truth.
At this time I had an appointment at a place called New Egypt; they gave out word, which had a general circulation throughout the country, that on the evening of the appointment, Mormonism would be exposed, and the arguments adduced in its favor, refuted; and that I should be put to shame. On the evening of the appointment the people flocked into the town, from every direction: I walked the streets, before the appointed hour for meeting, and heard the people conversing about the subject of controversy, and found that their expectations were, to hear a scriptural argument; the meeting commenced, and I addressed the congregation upon the subject of the Millennium, as long as I thought proper, and then gave liberty; the Methodist preacher arose, and said that he had a number of questions written down, which he wished me to answer; I told him that if they were reasonable ones, I would answer them. The first question was this, what is Mormonism, and will any person be saved if they reject it?-I told him I could soon answer that question. My answer was this, Mormonism, as you call it, is to believe that Christ is the Son of God, also a firm belief in the scriptures, then faith, repentance and baptism for the remission of sins: the laying on of hands for the reception of the Holy Ghost, having a church organized according to the new testament pattern, and to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; all who reject this will be damned, if the scriptures are true. As to the other questions, they were as easy answered as that of the first. They then commenced repeating news paper stories, reading a pamphlet, and telling all the tales that they had heard with foul insinuations, and in a sarcastick [sarcastic] manner, made use of invective appalations [appellations] to blast the characters of men, whom God had raised up for the purpose of bringing about his great and marvelous work of the last days; probably thinking that by so doing, it would render the society, and its principles, odious in the minds of the people, so that they would stop their ears, and cease to hear any more. As for myself, my determination ever has been, not to partake of the spirit of slander, and of a strife of this kind; but when the truth is attacked I always feel bound to boldly defend it; neither had I any disposition for a controversy of this kind; consequently, I bore testimony to the truth of the doctrine that I had proclaimed: and showed that their news paper stories were false, and that they were hatched up by evil designing men, to destroy the work of truth: I then dismissed the meeting.
Those who were opposed to the truth, who came with anticipations of a general triumph over Mormonism, and that I would be put to shame, and forced to abandon the country with disgrace; instead of rejoicing, on the account of successful labors, were astonished at the conduct of the priests, and returned home with amazement, more than rejoicing, others knowing that slander, was no argument, and that there had no argument been adduced, to overthrow the doctrine that I had proclaimed, acknowledged that there was no scriptural argument that could be produced to overthrow it, and those who made the attack, instead of putting me to shame, they put themselves to shame; and instead of exposing Mormonism, they exposed their own wickedness; rendered themselves odious in the minds of the most of the congregation; so that their influence against Mormonism was but little, after that. After this, they no more attempted to expose Mormonism, publicly, where I had a chance to defend it; but commenced warning their members not to go and hear, telling them, that they would get bewitched, or led astray, or deceived; (what better testimony do we want, to prove that they are on a sandy foundation, for if they are built upon the rock, the gates of hell cannot prevail against them;) yet, notwithstanding all their exertions to destroy Mormonism, the people believed it more than ever, for this reason, they had made their assertions, that Mormonism was an unscriptural doctrine, and that they could make it appear so, but when the time of trial came, they failed in the attempt; and, as my manner of teaching was, to reason from the scriptures, the honest were constrained to acknowledge, that there is no scripture to condemn it.-And as I continued preaching, the prejudices of the people wore away, and there was a general spirit of inquiry. The rich and the
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